Highlights and memories

We are on ferry to Victoria and have a moment to ponder the past month. Seems much longer since we started out - we managed to pack a lot in. We keep saying we don’t want to do the “If it’s Tuesday, it must be Belgium.” kind of holiday. But how do you pass up the chance to see something new and fascinating every day? 

While sitting here, we are thinking over our highlights of the trip. 
Bill’s was our amazing visit with Henry Roy Vickers in his home overlooking the raging Skeena River. Wildlife comes next on his list including our trip to the preserve outside Whitehorse. Then there was the white-knuckled trip on the Top of the World Highway from Dawson City to Chicken (so-named because they couldn’t spell Ptarmigan!) Another moment for Bill was watching a grizzly bear meander over a hillside. None of us could find the bear in the binoculars so it was a treat just for him. He couldn’t get over how relaxed the bear seemed but how quickly he covered territory.I formed new highlights every day - usually involving the natural world - a world of wild flowers and butterflies I thought was gone. The boulder glacier was a strange treat - a chance to see a true alpine garden with miniature plants artfully hidden in safe crevices out of the wind and somewhat protected against the winter. Bears lying in dandelions have completely changed my attitude towards those yellow flowers - if the bears love them that much, they must be good. Memories of our conversation with the people of Ksan, the amazing native heritage site, still brings a smile to my face - such respectful, intelligent and wonderful people. And what we learned! Beringia is now a familiar word in our vocabulary. We followed rivers to their headwaters and were always amazed by their size and beauty. And the boreal forest. Our constant companion. The spruce trees - white and black - much smaller than trees of our forests but resilient in spite of severe growing challenges - the birch, cottonwood and aspen trees - trunks as gorgeous and varied as their leaves were bright and fresh. Will we go back? This trip can’t be duplicated but we loved the Yukon and might return - by plane to Whitehorse to rent a car and travel back to Kluane and maybe return to Tombstone. This time in the fall hoping to see the colours both on the ground and in the sky. In the meantime, we have amazing memories of a unique and special part of the world.